Soulful brands are all about making an emotional connection. Purpose driven businesses connect to the essence of what it means to be human; they're not just about selling a product. They have meaning, they have a story, and they share their story in creative ways.

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And while this might sound like some jargon that doesn't apply to your small business, you may be surprised to learn that this is actually one of the most important steps towards building a successful company. If you feel like your company is lacking spirit or identity (or if you don't know what that even means), then here's how to get started down the soulful branding path.

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What is soulful branding?

Simply put, soulful branding is about creating a meaningful relationship between your brand and your customers. It's about telling a story that your customers will relate to and be inspired by, and finding ways to make that story as transparent as possible.

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A business with soul knows what its reason for being is, and actively communicates its mission to all. The simplest way to do this is by incorporating your mission into your product or service itself- making it part of the essential DNA of the company. And in order to clearly communicate what your mission is, you need to know who you are, why you're here, why your business exists... and above all, who you're here for.

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Being able to answer these questions is important on two levels:

1. Your company will be stronger and more resilient if you can clearly state what your mission is- it's not just a random thing that you decide to do one day
2. It will help your customers trust and care about you more if they know that you have a bigger purpose.

Once you've figured out what it means to be the soulful version of your business, then the next step (and the easier one) is figuring out how to get there.

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How to Create a Soulful Brand

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1- Get crystal clear on who you are and why you're doing this

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One of the best ways achieve clarity of purpose is to go on a soul-seeking mission, or a journey of self-discovery. It doesn't have to be some big ordeal- just lots of time and space (and perhaps a journal) for you to dig into why you started your business in the first place, and how it fits in with your life goals.

Write down what you want your customers to get out their interaction with your business. What makes your product or service different from the other options that are out there?

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Ask yourself: how does my service make my customers feel? How does it help them live their life more fully? Think about what do all your customers have in common and write that down. Try to establish connections between your mission and their lifestyles.

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Once you do this, revisit your brand values, too. What do you stand for? Who do you want to become, and how?

Remember that your customers are not just buying a product (or an experience) but they are investing in who you are as a business and your purpose as a whole. By clearly articulating what your brand is, you allow them the space to discover more of who THEY are.

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2 - Look at your products and services as more than just another commodity

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If you want to have soul in your business, then you have to start viewing yourself as a service that has something extremely valuable to offer.

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When you find yourself thinking of your product or service in terms of its price, then try to re-frame it as what it means for the people you serve. What can you achieve together with your customers? How can you help them?

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See your product or service not just as a way to make money, but as a way to share something special with people. You don't have to make things cheap or free in order to be soulful, but it's important to continue to entertain the thought that what you're doing has meaning and is worth putting out there, because it helps people. This self-awareness and confidence will show in the way you present yourself and your business and will ensure that  your customers feel the the passion behind what you do.

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And the best part? Because the soul of you brand will radiate through everything you do, your customers will come back knowing you're happy to share your gifts with them!

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3. Come up with a unique way to deliver your promise

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This is one of the most important steps in creating soulful branding, because it's where you can turn the experiences you want people to have into something tangible. If you're having trouble finding inspiration for what your company stands for, take a look at how other brands have turned their passions into a lifestyle.

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Take a look at Boss Babe or Mel Wells - these brands are great examples of how soulful women can create an entire culture around their products, services & raisons d'être.

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What we're emphasizing is that your business is not just about the services you offer, but it's also about the experience of having them. Remember that your customers make hundreds of little decisions every day up to the point where they actually buy your product- and this is what helps shape their experience.

No matter what you do, try to offer something unique. Not all of your customers will want what you have to offer- but they'll like that you don't treat them like a means to an end. Let your passion fuel you to create a product or service that's one-of-a-kind , and then share it with the world.

It will be hard at first, but eventually all the pieces will fall into place , and you'll know that you're on your way to achieving your soulful branding goals.

After all, when you turn your passion into a business, you have the opportunity to contribute to the world in a meaningful way. That's something no other product can do for anyone.

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4. Craft REALLY GOOD messaging

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Everything your brand puts out has a message. From what products you sell to what you personally stand for, every choice sends a message about why you exist and who you want to be. And while this is true whether or not your brand has soul, it's even more vital when creating one.

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Think about how you want your brand to present itself. What language do you want to use? How will you express yourself creatively? What art or photography will you use?

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When we write brand messaging, we have a list of power words, phrases and personality traits of the brand close by to make sure we always stay true to the brand's purpose.  

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This exercise will allow you to see how you can weave your brand's personality & mission into your customers' journey.

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Remember that there are lots of ways you can share your story with the world. But in order to do it well, you have to make it a consistent practice and regular occurrence, rather than some marketing tactic that's here today and gone tomorrow.

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This is what creates trust with your customers; when they see that you're always being true to yourself/the image you want to portray, they start to trust that you will always have their best interests in mind.

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5. Commit yourself to the success of your customers

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Everything you do in your business is designed to be for the benefit of your customers, not just yourself. This can be looked at as a transcendent brand building discipline- doing things that make others successful in order to fulfill what you've set out to do with your company for yourself.

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Above all, your business exists to help customers reach their purpose, so you need to make sure that every action you take has the potential to positively impact their lives.

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And when you do this, you'll find that the success of your customers is infinitely more rewarding than what you might receive yourself. Your soul will be filled with purpose and authentic joy, and you'll know that your brand is a reflection of both who you are and how you can uplift others.

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If you stick true to your brand's soul, you'll never have to worry about what your business might become because it will always be a true reflection of the good you want to contribute to the world.

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These are just some of the core components required to build a soulful brand. Each step builds off of the last, and enriches your business in ways that will make it easier for you to express who you are as a brand.

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If you take these steps and follow your heart, you're going to see how easy (and fun!) it can be to build a soulful brand from the ground up. So go on, start infusing your brand with soul! If you'd like some help, you can always contact us for free discovery call.

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Together we can help you create the soulful brand you've always dreamed of!

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The reason why we're so passionate about this topic is because we think that, when done right, soulful branding can be the best thing you can do to up your business game.

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Not only does it give your customers a much more meaningful experience, it also makes you a better person. Use this practice of building a soulful brand to also fuel your personal growth. You'll be amazed to at the result: a soulful and deliberate brand that represents all aspects of who we, and our customers truly are.

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